Gym and more Gym

So I can proudly say that since joining the gym 20 days ago, there has only been 4 days that I haven't went. My exercise is on! I still struggle with my diet. I know what to do but its is so hard. I lost a pound last week. Really hoping for two this week.

I am still spinning and going to aerobics classes. Today I worked out with my friend Rebecca. We did a hard core weight lifting workout of dead lifts, hang clean, hang clean and press and squats. It was brutal but good. I know I'll be a little sore tomorrow. Thankfully there was 30 minutes left to zumba so I quickly went and tried to losen up my tight muscles.

Hudson is taking Karate at the gym and loving it! I am glad to be teaching him the habits of working out. He is also taking yoga, zumba and a running class.

Body Jam

Today I attended Body Jam for the first time. It was fun. I also attended a zumba class yesterday. I usually am pretty confident in these types of classes. I took 10 years of dance lessons and I usually can feel the beat pretty good. My hips don't lie. I can usually shake it pretty good. For the last year I have been attending a class like zumba-hip hop and I have loved it. However, there are no mirrors so you don't get to see how ridiculous you look. I always felt great, like one of the better dancers.

I'm not so sure anymore. After attending these past two classes and being surrounded my mirrors, I think that the above image is true. I still feel like I have rhythm but seeing my overweight body in the mirrors definitely is a confidence downer. The other gripe that I am having is that the instructors look at you like a mirror.

I talked to the instructor after class and she said that there have been studies shown that people remember the routines and get into the movements better if they watch the instructor as though they are watching them selves in the mirror. I am still not so sure. After years and years of watching an instructor from behind it is very confusing for me to try and do this. Especially when there are turns and stuff.

So while I am loving my freedom of being able to go to the gym whenever I want, I am missing Tammye's fun Zufu class without the mirrors and missing my regular girls. However, I will give props to today's instructor Jenny. She is an inspiration...she herself has lost 170 pounds. She was very motivating and good at her job. It will just take me a while to adjust.

Plans never work

Yesterday I got up early and was all ready to go to Body Pump. I took it years ago at 24 fitness and Gold's gym but haven't taken it in at least 7 years. I was looking forward to it. I go the kids all ready, all of us fed and in the car by 9AM (class is at 9:30). But wait...where are my keys? I looked everywhere. I couldn't find them. Finally at about 9:20 I located them in the side pocket of my gym bag. I live about 15-20 minutes from the gym. Crap!

We got to the gym and as soon as we got there both kids said they needed to go potty. By the time I took them and got them registered in their classes I was well past 9:30. I usually wouldn't mind and I'd just join a class late. However, Body Pump is different. You have to get your mat, your step, your weights, etc and I didn't want to walk in late, it is a class that you are supposed to go to early. Arrggh.

Then I saw a friend of mine on the elliptical and I just got on and started talking to her. I did that for about 25 minutes, then jumped on the treadmill for about 10 minutes. At the end of that it was about 10:30 so I decided to go to zumba. When I went on Saturday there was like 25 people. When I went today there was 3. It was fine but definitely changed the dynamic. So, I didn't get in my weight lifting! At least I burned a few calories.

Week 1: Down 2.4

Here we go again.

Week 1: -2.4 pounds

I was hoping for 4 pounds in the first week but I am still happy with 2.4. Two pounds consistently will be the key. This week I worked out a lot, tried new things and did really well with my water intake. My diet was pretty flawless through out the week but we did go out to eat this weekend and I probably had a few too many snacks over the weekend. That is when it is hardest.

This coming week I have CPR every night so I have planned my workouts for the morning. I am just going to classes this week as most of my friends that I do the circuit training with workout at night. Here is my plan.

• Monday: Body Pump (lifting weights to music)...I might take Zumba afterwards if I am not dead.
• Tuesday: Body Jam (dance)
• Wednesday: RPM (spin)...if I am ambitious I could take Body Pump afterward (doubt it).
• Thursday: Zumba
• Friday: Off
• Saturday: Weekend Warrior with Tammye!

Hoping that all my workouts with a good balanced diet pays off. I'll let ya know. Hope you all have a good week.

Almost 1 week down

So we are almost one week into the new year. I can proudly say that I have been to the gym every day since the 31st of December, however I didn't really start my diet until the 2nd. I will be weighing in every Monday morning and tracking my progress on my weight loss tracker on the front page.

I have had some really good workouts. I have had my friend Nikki workout with me a few times and I have tried to incorporate all the things that my trainer, Tammye has taught me. I am trying to pay it forward. We have been working out together and we have been doing some pretty good weight circuits and cardio drills.

Next week is crazy. I literally have CPR every single night of the week. The nice thing though, is that now I can workout during the day too. So I am just going to hit a class every morning. I am taking Friday off cause I have CPR class Friday morning and I don't want to wear myself out. I'll be going to Tammye's weekend warrior on the 14th and I know that will be brutal. I am excited to get that sore again though. Over the past year I have really gotten passionate about working out. I look forward to it and love to work out. The diet has been the part I have struggled with most but I feel like I can do better this time. I am just trying to plan more and really watch my portions and make better choices.

I am going to a spin class called RPM tomorrow morning. I am really looking forward to trying it again. Sadly I can't go next Tues night and I really liked the instructor that night. I want to get back in the saddle though or I'll have to go the excruciating butt pain again. I am trying to go once in the morning next week. Hudson took his first karate lesson on Thursday. He was so cute and very excited about it! I am happy to be instilling good habits for him to exercise at a young age.

I'll be posting a few workouts soon...so stay tuned.

Breakfast Casserole

I have been trying to incorporate eating protein at breakfast. It is hard for me because I don't like eating dinner left overs for breakfast and can't imagine just eating a chicken breast at 8am. Christmas morning we had brunch here and I made a yummy breakfast casserole. I have been making one, once a week and eating it in the mornings. If you are really trying to cut carbs you can take out the potatoes but they really make it tasty. This is very satisfying and keeps you full.

Breakfast Casserole

Spray 11x13 casserole dish with some olive oil spray or PAM

Layer 2-3 cups of frozen or baked chopped potatoes

Add browned Jimmy Dean mild sausage (you can use turkey sausage)

Add 1 can green chilles

Add 1/2 white or yellow finely chopped onions

Beat 6-8 eggs with 1C fat free sour cream and layer on the top (you can use milk if no sour cream)

Sprinkle with some shredded cheese (optional)

Serve with 1 TBSP salsa

Cook at 350 for 30-45 minutes (till eggs are firm, mine is faster because I use my convection oven)

I then cut this into 8-10 pieces

6-8 WW Points depending on variations

My go to breakfast

My new favorite, easy, balanced breakfast is a yogurt parfait. I've been eating it a couple of times per week. What I like about it is that it gives you a good balance of protein, carbs and fat. So easy...here it is. I found a very similar recipe on skinnytaste.com but she used honey. That would be good as well. You could also use stevia.

Yogurt Parfait

1 Oikos plain greek yogurt

1/2 C mixed berries (I use the frozen)

2 TBSP sliced pecans

1 TBSP agave nectar, honey or stevia

You could defrost your berries but I just add them to my yogurt frozen first thing in the morning and then do some of my morning chores, get my kids breakfast ready and then about 15 minutes later I stir it up and chop up the berries with my spoon a little. Give it a good mix and eat it up. I love it! The pecans really add to it.